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Aiyuk seeks to become one of the NFL's highest-paid receivers. He is currently slated to earn $14.124 million in 2024 on a team-exercised fifth-year option but reportedly aims for a contract closer to $30 million annually. The 49ers have not budged from their reported $26 million offer made earlier in the offseason.
NFL insider Josina Anderson shared one detail of the contract that the Patriots offered Aiyuk's camp: They were willing to pay the wideout more than $28.5 million annually.
Aiyuk Early Morning Follow-Up: The #Patriots are currently resigned to the notion #49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk isn't coming to New England-feeling that's not what Aiyuk wants, per source. I was told this morning, NE was still prepared to give Aiyuk in "excess of $28.5M/y" despite… https://t.co/W92rJ2KnHo
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) August 7, 2024
"Additional a league source said this morning there's belief within the Patriots that Aiyuk's 'preference' is to land with Pittsburgh—again their belief," Anderson wrote.
Aiyuk simply doesn't want to play for a rebuilding New England, a team with a first-time head coach and a rookie quarterback. After seemingly exiting the negotiation process earlier this week, the Pittsburgh Steelers have re-emerged as a contender to acquire Aiyuk.
"Doesn't seem like 49ers and Aiyuk are that far apart," Matt Barrows of The Athletic noted.
On Tuesday, when asked if there remains a scenario where a long-term deal with Aiyuk could still be worked out, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan responded, "There's a scenario for everything, so I wouldn't rule anything out."
While Aiyuk doesn't have a no-trade clause, he can effectively derail any trade by not agreeing to sign a new deal with an interested team, essentially dictating where he might go. This seems to be what happened with the Patriots.
